NEW YORK – The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in February.

James captured his fourth straight Kia NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month award by helping the Heat to a league-best 12-1 record, including a current 12-game winning streak. James paced the NBA in scoring (29.7 ppg), tied for the highest field goal percentage (.641), and ranked ninth in both assists (7.8 apg) and steals (1.85 spg). He also averaged a team-high 7.5 rebounds. James scored at least 30 points and shot at least 60 percent from the floor in an NBA-record six straight games (Feb. 3-12). He scored at least 20 points in 12 games, including 11 games with at least 25 points, eight games with 30-or-more points, and one 40-point effort.

Bryant guided Los Angeles to a 9-4 month, pacing the team in points with 23.9 ppg and assists with 6.6 apg, while adding 6.7 rpg. Bryant closed the month with four games (three victories) of at least 29 points, including a 40-point effort – his fifth this season — on 15-of-23 shooting in the Lakers’ 111-107 win over Portland Feb. 22. He recorded three games of at least 30 points, giving him 24 for the season, which ties Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant for the most such games in 2012-13.

Here is a closer look at the month for James and Bryant:

LeBron James, Miami Heat

Feb. 14 @ Oklahoma City: Recorded 39 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in a 110-100 victory over the Thunder.

Feb. 23 @ Philadelphia: Posted his third triple-double of the season with 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 114-90 win over the 76ers.

Feb. 26 vs Sacramento: Scored a season-high 40 points and grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds in a 141-129 double-overtime triumph against the Kings.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Feb. 5 @ Brooklyn: Had 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 92-93 victory against the Nets.

Feb. 10 @ Miami: Recorded 28 points, nine assists and six rebounds in a 107-99 loss to the Heat.

Feb. 24 @ Dallas: Collected 38 points — on 13-of-21 shooting, including 4-of-5 from distance —  12 rebounds and seven assists in the Lakers’ 103-99 win at the Mavericks’.

Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Atlanta’s Al Horford, Josh Smith and Jeff Teague; Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez; Denver’s Ty Lawson; Houston’s James Harden; Memphis’ Zach Randolph; Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and San Antonio’s Tony Parker

Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month
The Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month are part of a series of on-court performance awards called “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.” The series, currently in its sixth season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes five of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors: Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man Award, Most Improved Player Award, and Rookie of the Year.  For the first time, the series also includes the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month during the regular season.  Kia Motors is the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and the Kia Optima is the league’s Official Vehicle.  For more information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards” visit www.NBA.com/awards.